In the late renaissance (c. 1580-1600) and in the baroque (c. 1600-17??)
periods many different types of extended lutes were popular.
One group of these was called by names
archlute, arciliuto, liuto attiorbato, ....
Common to this group was that the courses on fingerboard
were tuned in the old "renaissance way".
Robert Spencer's article
Chitarrone, Theorbo and Archlute is a well written
introduction to these extended lutes.

In the
Dusiacki Lute Book (Berlin/Cracow, mus. ms. 40153)
there are six pieces for archlute by Santino Garsi da Parma.
Perhaps these pieces could be called more or less as "Gebrauchsmusik",
but I think they still are quite well made in that 'genre':

Aria del Gran Duca:
my edition (fol. 7v-8r) (pdf),
video in YouTube,
video in Vimeo
This piece is Santino's archlute version of the very popular song by
Emilio de Cavalieri composed for the Florentine Intermedio of 1592.
This archlute version is also a wonderful etyde for playing the
bass strings...

My heavily edited (1st?)
version (pdf).
My reconstruction has quite uneven phrases, but still it feels
quite natural to me. Perhaps Marquesa di Sala actually
was an uneven, odd, person...;-)
And then there is also the known problem of non-ternary galliards...
And in any case this version perhaps is more Arto's than
Santino's...? "It's only rock and roll, but I like it!" :-))

The
ms. 40032, fol. 153v/p. 361
(pdf). Thanks to Arthur Ness for
pointing me this much clearer version! Arthur also told an
interesting fact:
"By the way, the Contessa [Marchessa] di Sala was the beautiful
Barbara Sanvitale née Sanseverino. Fabritio Dentice was one of her
musicians."

Pietre Rotolanti: Dipingi nera quella porta,
video in YouTube,
video in Vimeo
Partly improvised version of a very famous and beautiful (ba?)rock song.
Just in case someone is interested,
here is my ms. that
I have in front of me in the video.
I had planned to play two verses, but when the recording
already had started, I decided instead improvise a "prelude"
and play only one verse and repeat the A part at the end.

Scherzo sopra "Et permanebit", TWV 7:7 2b.
I could not resist having fun on the strange harmonic progressions
by Telemann. Quite modern stuff... ;-)
Video in
YouTube (29.1.2016)

Bach: Sarabande (BWV 995).
The famous Sarabande played on the new archlute.
Video in
YouTube (4.2.2016)

Pietro Castrucci: Ciaccona.
Violin virtuoso and composer Pietro Castrucci studied with Corelli
and later became the leader of Handel's opera orchestra in London
for nearly 20 years. In this unedited concert performance
Anna-Mari Ablouh plays baroque violin and Arto Wikla plays archlute.
The performance was part of Amore Barocco orchestra's concert
March 6, 2016, in the Oulunkylä Church, Helsinki.
Video in
YouTube (7.3.2016)

J.S. Bach: Ritornello "Ruht wohl" (BWV 245).
My archlute arrangement of the instrumental "ritornelli"
of the final chorus of the St. John Passion.
Video in
YouTube (27.3.2016)

[Well, the opposite of archlute ;-)] Antonio Vivaldi: Largo (RV 93).
This is my arrangement to solo lute of the Largo in
Vivaldi's Lute Concerto in D-major (RV 93).
The soprano lute in d is made after model "Wendelio Venere",
Vienna, c.1580, by Timo Kontio, 1997. Played by this lute the key is G-major.
Here
is my old (2008) arr to lute solo - all 3 parts - of this concerto.
Six course lute in "renaissance tuning" in whatsoever pitch is enough!
Video in
YouTube
(1.4.2016).

Corelli: Folia (kitchen rehearsal!).
This is just only our "terza vista" common rehearsal of Corelli's
famous Folia.
Video in
YouTube (6.6.2016)

Just testing my new toy, Q8 (passacaglia impro).
Well, I'm just checking my new Zoom Q8 by playing a
tiny passacaglia impro on the archlute .. ;-)
Video in
YouTube (7.6.2016)

Monteverdi: Sì dolce è'l tormento (lute solo).
To me this song by Monteverdi is the most beautiful way to compose
just a simple descending scale! That is why I also made this
instrumental arrangement.
Video in
YouTube (11.6.2016)

Purcell: Chaconne (King Arthur).
This is my archlute arrangement of Purcell's famous Chaconne from his
"King Arthur".
Here is my
arrangement (pdf). My performance is
far from perfect –
I am so lazy in practicing – but my arr is good! ;-)
Video in
YouTube (26.8.2016)

Friday evening's whimsy ;-).
In 7pm I started to arrange, in 8:15 pm I recorded this whimsy ... ;-)
... and yes, I do know there are some differences ...
Here is my
arrangement (jpg).
Video in
YouTube
(2.9.2016).

Arcangelo Corelli: Sarabanda Largo .
The model of my archlute arrangement is in the Sonata VII,
Corelli's Op. 5. Arranged this evening and recorded right away.
Here is my
arrangement (jpg).
Video in
YouTube
(8.9.2016).

Unprepared Passacaglia improvisation.
My wednesday evening's honestly unprepared improvisation on
the Passacaglia bass line in d is dedicated to a certain lady..;-).
Video in
YouTube
(19.10.2016).

My Monday's secondary dominant chain on archlute ;-).
C-F-Bb-Eb-Ab-Db-(Gb=F#)-B-E-A-D-G-C.
Isn't it kind of crazy that our (western?) ears can be fooled
so easily through all the 12 keys in one minute!
In uneven temperament, the (Gb=F#) is already quite crazy. ;-)
Video in
YouTube
(7.11.2016)

My Fancy on Handel's chromatic progression.
Handel's Messiah #26 "Thy rebuke" has all the notes of the
chromatic scale, actually also some enharmonics:
C, C#, D, D#, Eb, E, F, F#, G, G#, Ab, A, A#, Bb, B.
I just had to play a modest game on his harmonic progression! :-)
In case you happen to wish to play my chord progression Fancy,
here (jpg)
is the tabulature, which shows more or less what I played.
Video in
YouTube
(16.11.2016)

"Fugue of the Pori Regiment".
This stringent fugue is based on the "March of the Pori Regiment"
alias the "March of the Björneborgers",
Finnish 18th century military march. The video was recorded in the eve
of Finnish Independence Day, performed by our Paimio Mancini Society (PMS).
The fugue is written by Martti Peippo.
Video in
YouTube
(7.12.2016)

10...

Aquila's new "red strings", loaded nylgut, CD-type.
My first sound and touch check of Aquila Corde Armoniche's new
loaded nylgut lute strings on the cc, G and F on my archlute:
2x105CD, 140CD, 155CD. First impression: good feel and sound.
There is no intended musical value in this recording... ;-)
Video in
YouTube
(8.12.2016)

Handel: Where'er you walk (lute solo) .
My archlute arr of the A-part of this famous aria, which comes
from opera "Semele" (1743).
Here is my
arrangement (jpg).
Video in
YouTube
(10.12.2016)

Two Christmas Carols (or one?).
"Entre le boeuf et l'âne gris" is 17th century French song,
Finnish "Heinillä härkien kaukalon" was published in 1926.
Do we have here two or one carol? ;-)
Video in
YouTube
(15.12.2016)

11...

Hymne à l'amour (lute solo).
My simple lute version of this famous (anti-war!) song by
Marguerite Monnot, words and sung by Edith Piaf.
This song was used as a kind of symbol against nuclear war in
the 50's and 60's. Perhaps it's time again ...
Here is my
rough draft,
which I watch while playing this... just in case some lutenist
friend is interested in playing this...
Video in
YouTube
(30.1.2017)

Robert de Visée: Chaconne (raw and dirty ;-) ).
One FB friend wished to have some Chaconne by Robert de Visée
arranged to archlute. So I did one this evening –
based on the theorbo version – and I just couldn't
resist also recording my new arr – practically with no practising.
Here is my arrangement.
I do not play the repetitions, I just wanted to show that it is
convenient to play this. Actually arranging from theorbo to archlute
is quite straightforward. Of course the feeling also changes
"archlutistic"...
And sorry for my unpolished playing! ;-)
Video in
YouTube
(8.2.2017)

John Wilson: Prelude 2.
John Wilson (1595-1674) was an English composer, lutenist and teacher.
His music is sometimes considered "curious".
Well, perhaps also this Prelude is not most "normal"?
Video in
YouTube
(25.2.2017)

[Aquila's CD and NNG as fundamental-octave pair.
In the lute list someone had problems in getting Aquila
loaded nylgut CD and normal NNG strings work well in tune, when used as a pair fundamental-octave. I have had no problem.
And here is the proof! :-)
The strings are 140 CD (2.95 Kg) and 66 NNG (2.62 Kg)
Video in
YouTube
(1.3.2017)]

12...

Pietro Castrucci: Ciaccona (Moon, rehearsal, error).
Dancing Moon and the mistake are included! ;-) Violin virtuoso and composer
Pietro Castrucci studied with Corelli and later became the director of
Handel's opera orchestra in London for nearly 20 years. In this unedited
rehearsal 2 March 2016 Anna-Mari Ablouh plays the baroque violin and Arto
Wikla plays the archlute. One big and real mistake and even a retake of
one variation is included! ;-) The lazily dancing(?) Moon is videoed
6 March 2017.
Video in
YouTube
(6.3.2017)

Passacaglia improvisation on the Moon ;-).
I just couldn't resist improvising a passacaglia based on my Moon video!
Try to tolerate ;-)
Video in
YouTube
(11.3.2017)

Purcell: Rondeau (lute arr.).
Well, here I play a 10 courser...
This is my simple lute arrangement of Henry Purcell's famous Rondeau.
It was done just as Friday evening hobby, both the arrangement and
the playing. So, ... it doesn't need to be so fast, does it. ;-)
My arrangement is
here.
Video in
YouTube
(30.6.2017)

Rollin' & Tumblin' fragment by archlute.
Don't take this too seriously! It is just my Saturday evening's
crazy whimsy! And well, also "early music". ;-)
Btw, I play in the same key with RL Burnside, but to me
it is Ab, because my tuning is a'=415Hz as is common today when
playing baroque music.
Video in
YouTube
(8.7.2017)

New Buechenberg theorbo came just - first touches.
My very first touches on my very new, big and foldable(!)
Buechenberg theorbo aka chitarrone. The maker is Lauri Niskanen,
Tampere, Finland. Just a few hours ago I fetched the instrument
from Tampere. So do not expect great playing, just touching the strings. :-)
Video in
YouTube
(6.10.2017)

Robert de Visée: Sarabande.
As some kind of lament for Buechenberg theorbo's accident I played my
archlute arrangement of a Sarabande by Robert de Visée.
Video in
YouTube
(14.10.2017)

Ein feste Burg (the theme of October 31 2017) ;-).
My quick and dirty version of today's theme (at least here in northern Europe)
is more or less based on the vocal version by Hans Leo Hassler.
Lots of hemiola style stuff there. And this piece really had to be
made just today! ;-)
My arrangement is
here.
And this is Luther's version.
Video in
YouTube
(31.10.2017)

Just checking my big theorbo after the repair.
The maker very promptly repaired my foldable Buechenberg theorbo
after the crash. He also developed the strength of the construct.
I just play some simple chord progressions, no art here ;-)
Video in
YouTube
(27.11.2017)

Touching the theorbo strings in Follia ways.
"Tastar de corde" of my new BIG Buechenberg chitarrone
"Folias de Espana" and "La Follia" in mind.
I am just trying to understand the size of the instrument...
Strings: 8x2 88 cm + 7x1 175 cm.
Video in
YouTube
(12.12.2017)

Is this a tiny solo piece? ;-).
Sometimes it is so nice to tabulate the continuo...
especially of Gigues... ;-) (this is just the very beginning of the
Giga in the RV 64)
Video in
YouTube
(1.2.2018)

18...

Karjaa, ich muss dich lassen (10 course Dieffopruchar).
Karjaa is kind of Innsbruck to us, because the summer courses of the
Helsinki Early Music Society have been arranged there many many years,
and next year this wonderful place is not anymore available.
We hope to find a new place next summer.
Here
is my arrangement.
Video in
YouTube
(29.7.2018)

Yardbirds: Still I'm sad (10 course Dieffopruchar).
This is my renaissance lute arrangement of this "Gregorian chant" style
famous piece by the great Yardbirds.
This piece perhaps is known only by my aged friends? And
my inappropriate arrangement probably will be severely condemned by
the early music police... ;-).
Video in
YouTube (4.8.2018)

John Dowland: Flow my tears (7 course Venere).
The soprano is talented young amateur Aino Suihko, the bass is
professional opera singer Heikki Yrttiaho, the lutenist is Arto Wikla.
Performed in the Poor Knight's concert, Laitila medieval church 9.8.2018.
Video in
YouTube (20.8.2018)

Robert de Visée: Prelude - with wig! ;-) (theorbo).
The 17th century French lutenists seem to have liked wigs... ;-)
My instrument is a big Buechenberg theorbo (or chitarrone if you wish).
The string lengths are quite long: 88cm/174cm.
The piece comes from ms. Saizenay, p. 227.
Video in
YouTube (1.9.2018)

Nicolas de Merville: Ciacona (Bib.Nat. Buenos Aires)
(11 course Hoffmann).
This Chaconne comes from ms. RA-BAn Ms. 236.R-13769, Buenos Aires,
Biblioteca nacional, fol. 111v-112r. The composer,
Nicolas de Merville (b c1600; d after 1643) was active nearly a
century before this manuscript, which was written around 1720!
The instrument is 11-course baroque lute .
Video in
YouTube (12.9.2018)

Joan Ambrosio Dalza: Tastar de corde
(7 course Venere).
I found this very old video, first quarter of the 16th century!
The piece the man plays seems to come from Dalza's book that
Petrucci printed already in 1508. Already in those days they seem to
have had very advanced technology in Venice, hadn't they.
Video in
YouTube (13.9.2018)

Nicolas de Merville: Ciacona (my arr. to ren. tuning)
(10 course Dieffopruchar).
This is my own arrangement to lute in "Vieil Accord"
("renaissance tuning": g'-d'-a-f-c-G-F-Eb-D-C).
The arrangement is
here.
The original piece was composed to the D-minor "baroque tuning".
It comes from ms. RA-BAn Ms. 236.R-13769, Buenos Aires,
Biblioteca nacional, fol. 111v-112r.
Video in
YouTube (14.9.2018)

21 Mainly Stahlhammer manuscript(1), in Kalmar Läns Museum:

Gaultier: La belle homicide (11 course Hoffmann).
This Courante is one of the most popular lute pieces ever –
there are at least about 40 versions in different lute manuscripts.
The composer is Gaultier (sometimes written also Gautier),
either Ennemond ("vieux") or Denis.
This version comes from ms. Barbe, p. 26, with name
"L'homicide de Gautier".
In the famous lute book "Rhetorique des Dieux" (1652)
there is beautiful explanation to the name of this piece: "
This Fair Lady, by her charms, brings death to all that see or hear her.
But that Death is unlike ordinary deaths in that it is the beginning of life,
instead of marking its end".
Video in
YouTube (17.9.2018)

Anders von Düben: Marche de Narva (11 course Hoffmann).
This anonymous lute arrangement of of a marche by Anders von Düben
is found in Swedish Stahlhammer manuscript (1), Kalmar Läns Museum
(S-Klm21068 fol. 10v).
The original name by von Düben is
"Marche pour les Suedois - Narvamarschen", and it is part of the
"Comedie-balett: Narvabaletten", first performed 6 february 1701.
The piece was composed to celebrate the victory of the Swedish king
Charles XII (Karl XII) of his opponent Peter the Great of Russia in Narva,
January 1700. Later on Charles XII did not manage so well with his opponent.
YouTube (28.9.2018)

Modest Finnish meditation.
Tiny little ditty to the right hand of the theorbo just for my own
evening pleasure. Just for fun. Don't blame my lute ;-)
YouTube (25.10.2018)

Old lutenist taking a look to "the other world"....
Tiny passacaglia by an electric guitar that I bought just 2 hours ago...
YouTube (12.11.2018)

24
I Wish You a Merry Holiday!.

At the end of the video there is the lute tabulature of my simple
arrangement. And the arrangement is also
here.
If you wish to play along, you should know that
the tuning is a'=415 Hz. And seven courses is enough...
YouTube (19.12.2018)

25 Lute player in astray – remembering teenage years, part 1

My very first cigar box blues.
Only some hours ago I got a cigar box fretless slide guitar.
Well, there are painted frets, but the strings are very high.
After stringing the tiny beast I could not resist trying to play
something on it. And I could not resist recording and publishing
my very first try on three strings and first try playing with
a slide tube. Shame on me... ;-)
This is btw very different animal than my archlute with 21 strings!
YouTube (3.1.2019)

My very second cigar box blues x 3.
New strange ways to poor old lute player. Just painted frets,
high strings and a slide ("bottleneck"). Just reahearsing the
new 3 string instrument. Lutes have many many more strings,
but they have frets... ;-)
YouTube (12.1.2019)

My 1st Fire Dragon Blues.
About two hours ago I fetched this Fire Dragon from the local post office.
The instrument is made by Robert Matteacci in Italy.
Its sound resembles me of its name! ...
And in the Dragons' world every 8 bar blues of course must have
at least one 9 bar section ... ;-)
YouTube (4.2.2019)

Memories of sunshine.
This is not the one and only Sunshine, just old lutenist's
memories of sunshine... ;-)
YouTube (14.2.2019)